Indovision: Cable TV in Bali

Watching TV may not be your first idea when you come to Bali, but for some expats TV is part of normal life. Regular broadcast TV in Bali has a selection of channels which are great if you enjoy Indonesian programming. For people who need a wide choice of programs in English there is IndoVision.
IndoVision is a cable TV company that has been operating since 1988. The company started its service with five-channel C-Band Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) analog service. Using Palapa C-2 satellite for its transponder and broadcasting system, the C-Band DBS service features programming from international suppliers, such as HBO Asia, Star TV, Discovery, as well as local
programming. Following in 1997, Indostar-1 which also known as Cakrawarta-1 satellite was launched.

This satellite uses S-Band frequency, which are less vulnerable to atmospheric interference than C-Band frequency, and are well suited to the tropical climate such as Indonesia. Cakrawarta-1 is
managed and operated by PT Media Citra Indostar (MCI), which was established in July 22, 1991.

In the past I have heard that the billing system can be a bit frustrating if you pay month by month, as you’ll get cut off every time, when the month runs out and your bill hasn’t arrived. The answer is to pay long term. Users can pay their IndoVision bill via a BCA or BII ATM machine which is convenient.

Baby TV – (Channel 3)
Indonesia’s first TV channel for baby and toddler under 3 years old, 24 hours education and entertainment program for baby’s development.

HBO Signature – (Channel 6)
A network that offers new season premieres of HBO’s critically acclaimed original programming as well as top Hollywood blockbuster movies from the five major Hollywood studios.

HBO – (Channel 7)
Movie channel which features box office movies from Hollywood 24 -hours non-stop. Also features special concerts and HBO originals with Indonesian subtitling.

Cinemax
Movie channel which promises fresh and exciting programming & non-stop commercial free in action, thrillers, horror and in also other genres subtitled in Indonesia.

Star Movies – (Channel 11)
24 hour movie channel which offers the best movies with different genres ranging from adventure, action, drama, comedy and many more.

Discovery Travel & Living – (Channel 21)
Channel that explores new lands, tastes new cuisine, redesigns spaces and invites viewers to sample the good life.

Asian Food Channel – (Channel 22)
The Asian Food Channel or AFC is the first and only regional Asian food TV channel in the region. It’s a new pay TV channel that provides a mix of both Eastern and Western programs in a
variety of formats.

Playhouse Disney channel – (Channel 30)
This program specially designed for children between 2 – 5 years old base on Whole Child Curriculum and from science recommended master of education pre-school in Asia Pacific.

Disney Channel – (Channel 31)
An entertaining and educating channel for the whole family including top series live action movies, cartoons, family drama, adventure stories and music show.

Star World – (Channel 43)
Channel which offers the very best of critically acclaimed series from comedy, action, sci-fi, soap opera, etc.

Animax – (Channel 44)
The Asia’s first channel features the latest Anime from Japan for specific age groups from kids, youth, young adults, and adults. Programs are available either with Indonesian subtitle or dub.

Hallmark – (Channel 45)
Channel that not only offers movies but also must watch mini series and kids programs in the morning.

E! Entertainment – (Channel 46)
A 24-hour channel dedicated to deliver news on celebrities and the world of entertainment.

Fashion TV – (Channel 48)
24 hours fashion channel from Paris, covers fashion shows from around the world with their latest trends from Paris, London, Milan, Tokyo even Indonesia.

Al Jazeera International – (Channel 55)
The world’s first global English-language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East. This channel gives you actual news, documentaries, live debates, entertainment, business and
sport.

Q TV – (Channel 95)
Channel that presents a daily education broadcast aimed at students of all types & ages living anywhere in Indonesia.

SWARA – (Channel 96)
This is the independently operated 24 hour Channel for the Indonesian Parliament. This channel has been established to promote transparency in the process of democracy and is the local
equivalent of the US based CSPAN channel. SWARA regularly develops several live and recorded Programs for creating political awareness among the people of Indonesia.

Travel & Tourism Channel – (Channel 99)
The only local channel dedicated to Indonesian tourism, presenting interesting programs and informations around exciting tourist destination in Indonesia also reveals on the tourism issues, especially in Indonesia Exclusive only on Indovision.

IndoVision offers a series of packages including Prime including 26 channels for 149,000rp per month, Movies including 5 movie channels for 85,000rp per month, Sport including 4 sport channels for 55,000rp per month, Oriental including 3 channels for 20,000rp per month and Other including NHK World Premium for 55,000rp per month.

Astro has more problems when it rains. Actually it doesn’t work at all then, while Indovision is more stable during rain. Someone told me it has to do with different frequencies. Hmmmm, who knows. More expensive though as mentioned before.

Astro is lacking the Fashion Channel (my GF noticed only after we switched – leading to complains, hehe) but has plenty of *own* channels with News, Movies, Sports and more Kids Entertainment.